New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-04-20
A GIRL BULL FIGHTER.

- SekkkkA p I'LL RAA7k1Iflkts
Expert Work fin the Ring by : Mexican Girl-ks
Wonderful Thrust
Indianapolis Journal
just prior to the taking effect OF the
decree against bull fighting, was for
tunate enough to witness a contest in
which one Of the most skiilfnl, daring
and expert OF the professional fighters
of Mexico. took a leading part. This
performer was a young woman, whose
equal has probably never appeared in
the PLAZA de Toros.' In this her
farewell exhibition, Senorita Herman
DEE advertised for the widest and
fercest bulls the country could pro-
duce, and agreed to fight them while
wearing stilts.. The novelty OF a
young girl engaging in bull
fight, handicapped by having
stills fastened to her feet, was sufh-
Gent to attract a vast crowd, and on
the day fixed for the event fully five.
thousand persons found places to sit
or stand in the large ampitheater.
The animals. provided for the occa-
sion were small, active and wholly un-
tanned, each. having his horns trimmed
and polished until the points were as
bright and almost as sharp as needles.
Never was more expert work done in.
this cruel sport than was coolly per-
formed by the Mexican girl on that
day.
AS the bull, mad with rage, would
make his furious charge, she would
stand until he had approached with
IN distance of about three feet, when
suddenly springing to one side,
she would, as the animal rush
ed furiously by, with one hand slap
him in the face with the red cloak
with which his anger had first
been aroused, while with the other
hand she. dextrously thrust into his
neck gaudy barbed "banderilla,
causing him to roar with pain and
rage. Charge after charge was made
by the maddened brute, only to be
eluded by the activegirl, while the bull
met the same treatment as before.
The little senorita played with him,
plagued and tortured him as a cat
would mouse, until the animal, bleed
ing and sore and worn out with fatigue
and pain, gave up the contest and
would fight no more. He had met his
conquer or, and was taken fromthe ring.
In the next contest the fair Castilian
was under an advertised obligation,
while yet wearing the stills, to kill the
bull with a sword scarcely more than
two feet in length. This was to be
done by the toreadora at the time
the animal was making the charge, the
fatal thrust to be given while she was
directly in front OF and fairly facing
the bull.
The animal selected for this contest
was a beautiful specimen of his race.
Black as coal, agile as a cat, savage
and wild, he was no sooner within tine
arena than he was ready for the bat
tie. After he had been permitted
to make a charge or two to warm
him to his work, the Governor, who
presided on the occasion, gave a sig
! nal and the bugle sounded the "death
CALL" The senorita. with stills of one
foot in height securely fastened to her
limbs, received the short sword, salut-
ed the Governor, and, turning to her
enemy, gave shout of defiance and
waved her scarlet cloak to arouse his
| anger.
At this time the distance separating
the antagonists was almost two hun
dred feet. Toro, Guivering with excite
ment and paving the earthin his rage,
waited for no second invitation.
With flashing eyes and head lowered
| to the ground, he started at full
speed for the subject of his hate. The
! brave girl waited until the beast was
| within twenty feet, when bracing ha-
self firmly, she held her sword at
shoulder height ready for his coming.
When within about four feet she
threw her body suddenly for.
sword, and, without waiting to see
the effect OF the blow, swung quickly
around and again saluted the govern
or. In a twinkling of an eye she turn
ed to face the bull, and as she did So
he dropped dead, SO close to her that;
without moving from her position, she
placed one foot upon the neck of her
now helpless enemy.
The sword directed by the strong
arm OF the self-possessed girl, had sew
cred the spinal cord, and death was
instantaneous and probably painless.
It was a perilous feat, skillfuilv and
fearlessly performed, and the slightest
nervousness on the part Of the per-
former would probably have resulted
in her death. The great audience in
recognition Of the skill of the brave
toreadora. rose to it's feet, and for
several moments there was shower
of gold and silver coins falling around
the victorious girl.
Sara Bernhardt's Revenge.